Butte County is a place of natural beauty with countless opportunities for recreation in both rural and urban environments. Many Butte County residents live in one of the five incorporated towns or cities: Biggs, Chico, Gridley, Oroville or Paradise. Butte County government provides services to residents through 23 diverse departments. Services include elections, road maintenance, public safety, solid waste disposal, and health and human services to name a few.

The Butte County Board of Supervisors appointed Shari McCracken as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) at its April 24 meeting.

McCracken has been serving as Interim Chief Administrative Officer since November 1, 2017, after former CAO Paul Hahn retired from Butte County.

“Shari is the natural choice for leading the Butte County team,” said Steve Lambert, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Throughout her time here, she has managed complex initiatives, faced challenging budgets, and supported departments throughout the organization, all of which allow her to hit the ground running as CAO.”

McCracken joined Butte County in 2005 as a Deputy Chief Administrative Officer. During her tenure, she has managed numerous countywide projects and worked closely with each department to help further their goals, programs and services. Dedicated to public service, she has worked for numerous public and non-profit agencies and organizations over the last 35 years. Previous to joining Butte County, McCracken worked for the CAO’s Office in Sonoma County. McCracken graduated from Chico State and has lived locally for a total of 28 years.

“I love working for, and living in, Butte County,” said McCracken. “I am excited to continue working with our dedicated team, identifying innovative solutions to address the service needs of our residents and enhance our communities, while maintaining fiscal stability for the County.”